Comments

IT should come as no surprise that James Hasson has emerged as the meat in the sandwich that is Manly's Grand Final selection puzzle.

This time last year the Sharks junior was filling foot-long rolls as a full-time sandwich hand at Subway in Cronulla Mall.

Now living in Belrose with fellow Sea Eagles youngsters Peta Hiku and Jorge Taufua, Hasson gets the chance to return to the the mall only from time-to-time to assist his former workmates among piles of jalapenos, meatballs, olives and ranch sauce.

Pitched into a one-on-one battle with more experienced prop David Gower for Manly's final bench spot in Sunday&rsquo;s decider, the 21-year-old on Sunday ventured back to the franchise that also launched the working careers of model Lara Bingle, singer Matt Corby and Test cricketer Steven Smith.

&quot;Working at Subway really helped me with footy, because I made lots of different friends and met a heap of new people,&quot; Hasson said.
James Hasson

James Hasson makes a Subway sandwich. Picture: Brett Costello

&quot;It helped my people skills, serving customers all day long.

&quot;Before I started making sandwiches, I was doing a carpentry job, and that was torture because of the hours. But Subway fit in well around footy training and I was in there just about every day.&quot;

Cronulla&rsquo;s large population of league stars soon realised one of their peers was working behind the counter - and took full advantage.

Bulldogs centre Josh Morris made a visit to Hasson as one of his pre-match rituals, while Sharks skipper Paul Gallen devoured a weekly chicken sub on the house.

There are few Grand Final moments that are so memorable, they overshadow the game itself. But the 2003 Grand Final between Penrith and the Sydney Roosters is remembered for one tackle.

Hasson, a Caringbah de La Salle junior, dreamed of playing alongside Gallen in black, white and blue.

But his hopes were dashed at the end of last season when the club offered him an underwhelming deal compared to the Sea Eagles' two-year overture.

&quot;Manly showed a lot of interest and Cronulla not as much,&quot; Hasson recalled. &quot;I didn&rsquo;t think I was a chance of playing NRL at Cronulla - not for a while, anyhow.

&quot;It was disappointing to leave because I loved the Sharks and saw myself playing there my whole career.

Former Kangaroos and NSW back-rower Matt Adamson expects Manly's star halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieren Foran to guide the side to victory on Sunday.

&quot;This year I had an aim of playing a few first grade games and also coming up against Cronulla.&quot;

While he missed the semi final clash a fortnight ago in favour of Gower, Hasson exceeded his 2013 performance by making a dozen NRL appearances.

With Joe Galuavo&rsquo;s brave bid for a return in the Grand Final terminated on Thursday, Hasson is sweating on a 13th start for Sunday&rsquo;s big one.

But Gower has been named in the No. 14 jersey, meaning Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey would have to throw a match-eve selection curve ball to move Hasson onto his four-man interchange.
Toovey: never underestimate a quality team like Manly 1:20

But, in Grand Final folklore, stranger things have happened.

&quot;It's come down to me and Dave a few times,&quot; Hasson said.

&quot;At the start of the year I was getting the nod, and then he got it toward the end.

&quot;I've just had to do my best all week and train as hard as possible. I know that I'm ready for a big game like this.&quot;

Should he be overlooked on Sunday, Hasson still has the World Cup to look forward to.

Born in London, he recalls loving Northern Ireland, where he spent the first three years of his life, before his family moved to Sydney's south.